The waterway network provides solace to millions of people across the UK. It can be a wonderful oasis of calm. Kingfishers, dappled light on still water, weeping willows. Lovely.

But it can also go wrong in an instant. Here is a brief tale that highlights the powerful but gentle work of the Waterways Chaplaincy

A Boater’s Tale

“Life was great on the boat. We were out of the rat race. We had a new born child. Then, my husband lost his job just before winter set in just before we developed problems with our heating. We were too far from Citizen’s Advice and had no money to pay for transport or fuel to heat the boat.

Our problems were compounding, we needed help as we felt lost and alone.

We were so grateful for the day the Waterways Chaplain popped a card under our door. The Chaplain assisted with our immediate problems and stayed in touch with us until we were back on our feet”.

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I am the National Lead for the chaplaincy and want to do my bit to ensure the future funding of the chaplaincy is secure in these precarious times. I am not a super proficient runner or cyclist, but this challenge will keep me honest, and hopefully help me think about all my invisible neighbours, slowly traveling the waterways of the UK.